Waldwick's new superintendent has aspirations for success

WALDWICK — Just 20 days into his new post as superintendent of schools, Dr. Paul Casarico said he has aspirations of turning the district into "the absolute best that [it] can be."

Photo by Richard Formicola

Students might want to watch their step on the high school’s refinished gym floor.

The former superintendent of the New Providence School District in Union County will be working from experience; New Providence High School — where Casarico worked for more than 10 years in three administrative positions — was recently ranked the top high school in the state by New Jersey Monthly, he said.

"It was more of an accomplishment due to many smaller accomplishments," Casarico said. "For instance, the senior internship program is one initiative I helped start at New Providence, but is just one of many programs that made [New Providence] successful."

Although the Board of Education is currently in the process of setting goals for the district, that hasn’t stopped the Montville resident from setting some for himself that he hopes will bring the same type of success he found in his previous district.

Improving and perfecting the district's teacher evaluation system, facilitating greater student achievement and taking steps to implement new technologies top the list for the 42-year-old.

"The difficult part of coming into a new district is trying to understand the norms in place," said Casarico. "Waldwick uses the Marshall System to evaluate teachers, which is different from what we used in New Providence, but they are comparable. So we’ll be looking at what we did well and what we can do better this year."

Casarico also is looking to build on the new wireless technologies currently being installed in every school in the district for this school year.

"These infrastructures are very important for testing, now that standardized tests will be given on computers, but it is equally as important for moving teaching methodology along," Casarico said.

He plans to work with students, teachers and principals in finding what technologies work best for Waldwick, and how to best bring them into the system.

Some may be familiar with Ramsey’s iPad initiative, which has now grown to include students from seventh through 12th grade. Casarico has experience with a one-to-one iPad initiative he helped start in New Providence, and said one in Waldwick could work out similarly.

"I’m not going to say iPads are the technology we will bring to the district, but what I am saying is we will be looking to students, teachers and principals to see what technologies they need and what improves our education, be it an iPad, a Chromebook or something we haven’t even seen yet," he said. "We just want to find the best tools for our students."

Despite the hectic atmosphere as district officials prepare for its Sep. 4 opening day, he says he has found enjoyment among the chaos.

"It has been a very welcoming experience," Casarico said. "Everyone has been very encouraging and I think we’re all excited for what is to come."

Happy to join what he calls "the Waldwick family," Casarico said he is most excited to become a part of Waldwick’s unique Grad Ball tradition.

"I don’t want to make it sound like I’m anxious to get the new senior class graduated," he said laughing, "but I can’t wait to see what it looks like this year."

But before attending any school events, he may want to look for a change in wardrobe, as the father of three was wearing a green and white polo- his former district colors and ironically the colors of Waldwick’s long standing rival, Midland Park.

"I did not know that … but that’s good because blue is my favorite color," Casarico joked. "Getting to wear blue is one of the reason’s I came to Waldwick."

Waldwick's new superintendent has aspirations for success

Students might want to watch their step on the high school’s refinished gym floor.

By Salvatore Trifilio

STAFF WRITER |

Waldwick Suburban News

WALDWICK — Just 20 days into his new post as superintendent of schools, Dr. Paul Casarico said he has aspirations of turning the district into "the absolute best that [it] can be."

The former superintendent of the New Providence School District in Union County will be working from experience; New Providence High School — where Casarico worked for more than 10 years in three administrative positions — was recently ranked the top high school in the state by New Jersey Monthly, he said.

"It was more of an accomplishment due to many smaller accomplishments," Casarico said. "For instance, the senior internship program is one initiative I helped start at New Providence, but is just one of many programs that made [New Providence] successful."

Although the Board of Education is currently in the process of setting goals for the district, that hasn’t stopped the Montville resident from setting some for himself that he hopes will bring the same type of success he found in his previous district.

Improving and perfecting the district's teacher evaluation system, facilitating greater student achievement and taking steps to implement new technologies top the list for the 42-year-old.

"The difficult part of coming into a new district is trying to understand the norms in place," said Casarico. "Waldwick uses the Marshall System to evaluate teachers, which is different from what we used in New Providence, but they are comparable. So we’ll be looking at what we did well and what we can do better this year."

Casarico also is looking to build on the new wireless technologies currently being installed in every school in the district for this school year.

"These infrastructures are very important for testing, now that standardized tests will be given on computers, but it is equally as important for moving teaching methodology along," Casarico said.

He plans to work with students, teachers and principals in finding what technologies work best for Waldwick, and how to best bring them into the system.

Some may be familiar with Ramsey’s iPad initiative, which has now grown to include students from seventh through 12th grade. Casarico has experience with a one-to-one iPad initiative he helped start in New Providence, and said one in Waldwick could work out similarly.

"I’m not going to say iPads are the technology we will bring to the district, but what I am saying is we will be looking to students, teachers and principals to see what technologies they need and what improves our education, be it an iPad, a Chromebook or something we haven’t even seen yet," he said. "We just want to find the best tools for our students."

Despite the hectic atmosphere as district officials prepare for its Sep. 4 opening day, he says he has found enjoyment among the chaos.

"It has been a very welcoming experience," Casarico said. "Everyone has been very encouraging and I think we’re all excited for what is to come."

Happy to join what he calls "the Waldwick family," Casarico said he is most excited to become a part of Waldwick’s unique Grad Ball tradition.

"I don’t want to make it sound like I’m anxious to get the new senior class graduated," he said laughing, "but I can’t wait to see what it looks like this year."

But before attending any school events, he may want to look for a change in wardrobe, as the father of three was wearing a green and white polo- his former district colors and ironically the colors of Waldwick’s long standing rival, Midland Park.

"I did not know that … but that’s good because blue is my favorite color," Casarico joked. "Getting to wear blue is one of the reason’s I came to Waldwick."